Oh, it's Mega Man 7! When I decided to detour into the GB series, it was because someone had told me MM7 was more like them than the NES games, and splitting of bosses in half aside I was beginning to think they'd gone loopy. But no, it's here, in GB MM4, where it is in fact just the prototype for Mega Man 7.
Mostly it's the shop. Being able to stop in between levels, visit Dr. Light, and purchase a bunch of different canisters or canister portions (think like heart pieces, but for a health restoration item. I'm ambivalent), or the very useful balancer, is a neat change, and gives enemies something to drop other than health and ammo. It can feel a little grindy, but being able to grab extra energy tanks actually fixes a major problem with the series: that 'maybe I'll need it later' fear that stops you using any limited item in video games.
The other aspect that sticks out as 7-like is the abundance of plot, fed to you via such innovative things as cut scenes (well, you have to push the dialogue along manually), and recurring enemies beyond the robot masters. Ballade is actually kind of neat, from your initial encounter straight through to his ultimate sacrifice.
The robot masters are fine, petite versions of their console counterparts, and I stuck to my plan to go buster only on the first encounter, and then exploit their weaknesses on the boss rush. Some ten games into this adventure, I can safely say this is The Most Fun way to approach them.
I don't know if it's the shop, the way levels are broken up, or just the smaller nature of the GB series, but this didn't outstay its welcome at all. In earlier reviews I lamented the insertion of a more cartoon-esque presentation, but this game's whole-hearted commitment to it actually kind of works. It's not classic Mega Man, it's Narrative Mega Man, and that's fine. A new path has been opened, and it's inexplicably immediately after the worst Mega Man game I've played (so far!). I'm excited for the future again, and that's a relief. Bring on V and all its weirdness!
Mostly it's the shop. Being able to stop in between levels, visit Dr. Light, and purchase a bunch of different canisters or canister portions (think like heart pieces, but for a health restoration item. I'm ambivalent), or the very useful balancer, is a neat change, and gives enemies something to drop other than health and ammo. It can feel a little grindy, but being able to grab extra energy tanks actually fixes a major problem with the series: that 'maybe I'll need it later' fear that stops you using any limited item in video games.
The other aspect that sticks out as 7-like is the abundance of plot, fed to you via such innovative things as cut scenes (well, you have to push the dialogue along manually), and recurring enemies beyond the robot masters. Ballade is actually kind of neat, from your initial encounter straight through to his ultimate sacrifice.
The robot masters are fine, petite versions of their console counterparts, and I stuck to my plan to go buster only on the first encounter, and then exploit their weaknesses on the boss rush. Some ten games into this adventure, I can safely say this is The Most Fun way to approach them.
I don't know if it's the shop, the way levels are broken up, or just the smaller nature of the GB series, but this didn't outstay its welcome at all. In earlier reviews I lamented the insertion of a more cartoon-esque presentation, but this game's whole-hearted commitment to it actually kind of works. It's not classic Mega Man, it's Narrative Mega Man, and that's fine. A new path has been opened, and it's inexplicably immediately after the worst Mega Man game I've played (so far!). I'm excited for the future again, and that's a relief. Bring on V and all its weirdness!